The Sri Lanka National Majors Chess Championship 2026 – Northern Province produced four days of outstanding competitive chess at Kokuvil Hindu Primary School, Jaffna from February 14 to 17, 2026. Organized by the Jaffna District Chess Association, the event brought together a talented and competitive field from across the Northern Province, all competing for vital qualifying spots to the National B Championship.
The Open category was organized without a listed Tournament Director, with FA Chathuranga Buddhika serving as Chief Arbiter and arbiters Anujan Srirameshkumar and Gajanthiran among the supporting officials. The Women’s category was directed by NA S Vimaleshan as Tournament Director, with FA Chathuranga Buddhika again serving as Chief Arbiter, supported by arbiters Darshana Arulselvan and J Aarakan. The Open was contested over 8 rounds and the Women’s over 7 rounds, both under the Swiss System format with the standard FIDE time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds increment per move from move 1, with full international rating calculation.
Open Category: S Gowsalyan Claims the Title in a Nail-Biting Finish
The Northern Province Open was one of the most tightly contested tournaments of the entire 2026 Majors series. With an average field rating of 1467 and a host of strong players from across the North, the top of the leaderboard remained congested right through to the final round. When the dust settled after 8 rounds, S Gowsalyan emerged as champion with 6.5 points — a result decided on tie-break in what was an extraordinarily close finish among the top four players.
S Bhavithran pushed Gowsalyan every step of the way, finishing as runner-up with an identical 6.5 points. Bhavithran’s campaign was built on consistency and fighting spirit, and his score of 6.5 points from 8 rounds was a thoroughly deserved result that confirms him as one of the Northern Province’s strongest players. ACM Ajeesh Sasikumar also finished on 6.5 points to claim third place on tie-break — a fine performance from the third seed that included notable victories over several higher-rated opponents.
Anparasan Uthayakumar was the surprise package of the Open, finishing fourth with 6.5 points despite entering the tournament as one of the lower-rated contenders at the top. His run through the rounds — defeating much higher-rated opposition along the way — was one of the most impressive stories of the event. Jeyarajah Kajeevan completed the remarkable cluster at the top with 6.5 points in fifth, making the top five all tied on the same score and separated entirely by tie-break — a testament to the extraordinary competitiveness of the Northern Province Open field.
AFM Kesigan Sivayokan scored 6 points for sixth place, continuing his strong run of form, while AFM Udayanithi J, ACM Nayanakheshan Venukanan, AIM Arunakirinathan Aruthran, and Thanushan Shakithiyen T all finished with 6 points to round out the top ten. The depth of competitive chess on display in Jaffna was a powerful statement from the Northern Province chess community.
Women’s Category: R Tharaniga Claims a Commanding Women’s Title
The Women’s section over 7 rounds was a thrilling contest from start to finish, with the championship only becoming clear in the closing stages. R Tharaniga was the standout performer, finishing the tournament with an impressive 6.5 points from 7 rounds to claim the Women’s title. Her campaign was built on precision and competitive composure — she won five of her seven rounds outright and held her nerve in the crucial moments, including a vital victory in the penultimate round that sealed her path to the title.
Saathana Saseelan gave Tharaniga a genuine challenge throughout, finishing as runner-up with 5.5 points in a strong and consistent campaign. Third place went to Thamiliny Francis Xavier, also with 5.5 points on tie-break — a remarkable achievement for an unrated player who more than held her own against rated opponents across all seven rounds.
S Narthavi, the top seed entering the tournament with a rating of 1676, finished fourth with 5.5 points — a solid result, though the title ultimately eluded her. Abinaya Sutheswaran and AFM Haridi Ramanendrah both finished with 5.5 points for fifth and sixth places respectively, while Akshika Chandraruban, Asmini Maheswaran, and Ransiya Mankalakumaran all scored 5 points to complete a highly competitive top nine. The quality and depth of women’s chess in the Northern Province was evident throughout, and the tournament served as a wonderful showcase for the region’s growing talent.
The Jaffna District Chess Association and the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka deserve great credit for organizing a well-run and competitive event in the heart of the Northern Province. The efforts of Chief Arbiter FA Chathuranga Buddhika and the full arbitration teams across both categories ensured that proceedings ran smoothly throughout all four days of play.
Congratulations to all the champions, prize winners, and every participant who competed in the Sri Lanka National Majors Chess Championship 2026 – Northern Province. We wish all our qualifiers the very best as they carry the Northern Province flag into the National B Championship. The road to the top continues — keep playing, keep improving! ♟️
